Downdraft brick-kiln.



PATENTED JAN. 17, 1905.

T I. BRETT.

DOWNDRAFT BRIGK KILN.

APPLICATION FILED 10150.29. 1903.

2 SHEETS-SHIIET l.

wikmaosao No. 780,021. PATENTED JAN. 1'7, 1905.

T. I. BRETT. DGWNDHAFT BRICK KILN.

APPLICATION FILED DEC. 29, 1903.

2 SEEETS-SHEET 2.

Wi'lineaoa A Urban prairies ."lL- atented January 1'7, 1905.

l afrm rr w iii) lltll tmli ii ll 'l fildltltlt ltltl t SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. "M30921, dated January 1?, 1905.

Application filed December 29, 1903. Serial No- 186,969.

To all 1072/0720 it may concern.-

Be it known that LTHoMAs I. BRETT, a citizen of the United States, residing at Fairmont, in the county of Marion, State Of VV est Virginia, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Downdraft Brick-Kilns, of which the following is a specification.

The object of my invention is to provide a kiln of this character wherein the heat may be distributed to any part of the kiln at will during the burning of brick by the use of one stack.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a top plan view of the bottom of the kiln constructed ac cording to my invention, portions being in section. Fig. 2 1s a vertical sectlon oi the same on the line 2 2, Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a vertical section on the line 3 SfFig. .i. Fig. at is a vertical section through one of the supplemental flues.

The kiln is divided into three main flues 4:, 5, and 6, each of which converges at 7 into a common flue leading to the stack 8. Each main flue is provided with series of supplemental laterally-radiating iiues 8, 9, and 10, respectively, at regular intervals, whereby the bottom of the kiln is provided with a large flue area.

The floor of the kiln is for all practical purposes built solid as distinguished from the checkered-work illoors of kilns of this character, the floor of my kiln being provided at intervals along the lines oi the main lines and at the end of the supplel'nental lines with passages 11, connecting the lines with the interior of the kiln. These passages are provided with closing-tiles 12, which are placed over them when thckiln is being emptied to prevent brick, dust, &c., from falling into the fines, and thereby clogging them; but of course it will be understood that these tiles do not cover said passages when the kiln is being burned.

It will be seen in Iliig. 1 that the supplemental flues oi? themain ilues t and 6 are positioned about midway between the bag walls .l

13 represents the fireplaces built in the wall 14 of the kiln at intervals.

17 represents the dampers placed in the main fines.

it will be noticed that the door 16 ot' the kiln is COI'lStillCiiGd oi. a series of courses of brick loosely laid upon each other, thereby facilitating the removal of that portion of the floor immediately over the lines for the pur' pose oil cleai'iing said lines of the accumulation of dust, &c., incident to the use of the kiln.

The central line with its supplen'iental lines 9 cover an area equal to lines -1; and its supplemental lines 8. The line 6 and its supplemental lines it) cover an area equal to line t and its supplemental l'lues. Thus it will be seen that each line covers an area equal to one-third (at) of the lloor area of the kiln.

in the operation of this character of kiln the heat ascends between the outer wall 14 and the bag-wall .15 to the crown of the kiln, from which point it is made to circulate downward through burning brick by means of the draft openings or passages 11, leading to the main fines or supplemental iiues, through which it is conveyed to the stack. in case it is desired to shut otl any portion of the kiln the damper oi the flue leading to that portion is closed and the heat directed to other portions of the kiln from which the remaining lines lead.

111 starting the kiln lv prefer to direct the heat through the main center flue, thereby causing the brick in course of burnii'ig to settle toward the center instead oi toward the outer walls of the kiln, whereby they are kept from falling out and being broken up when the kiln is open and the fireplaces are kept tree from being choked and tlmbag-walls from being damaged by Falling brick.

The supplemental fines of the main lines 4 and (5 are directed toward the wall of the kiln at a point midway between the bag-walls '15 in order to insure the proper amount 01 heat being directed toward the said outer walls, thus obtaiiiiing a more uniform heating of all portions of the kiln.

I may dispense with the dampers 17 by simply placing aboard or other flat body over the opening in the top of the main lines, through which said dampers pass, and in the use of such an expedient when it is desired to shut oil the heat from any portion of the kiln lar flue islifted off of the opening, thus break ing the draft in the flue 1 as a damper.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is- 1. A brick-kiln provided with a stack to one side of the kiln, a central circular flue beneath the floor of the kiln, a radial flue leading from the central flue to the stack, radial flues extending from the central circular flue and closed at their outer ends, two semicircular flues, one on each side of the central circular.

flue but closed to the same and to the other, radial flues extending from each of the semicircular flues to the outer wall of the kiln and closed at their outer ends by the said wall, a flue leading from each of the semicircular flues to the stack, the area of the floor covered by the central circular flue and its radial flues being equal to the area of the floor covered by either one of the semicircular flues and its radial flues, and means for controlling the draft of the central circular flue and the two semicircular flues separately.

2. A brick-kiln provided with a stack to one side of the kiln, a central circular flue beneath the floor of the kiln, a radial flue leading from the central flue to the stack, radial flues extending from the central circular flue and closed at their outer ends, two semicircular flues, one on each side of the central circular flue but closed to the same and to the other, radial flues extending from each of the semicircular flues to the outer wall of the kiln and closed at their outer ends by the'said wall, a flue leading from each of the semicircular flues to the stack, bag-walls located above the floor and between the radial flues of the two semicircular flues and means for controlling the draft of the central circular flue and the two semicircular flues separately.

3. A brick-kiln provided with a stack to one side of the kiln, a solid floor composed of a series of courses of brick loosely laid upon one another, a central circular flue beneath the floor of the kiln, a radial flue leading from the central circular flue to the stack, other radial flues extending from the central flue and closed at their outer ends, two semicircular flues, one on each side of the central circular flue but closed to the same and to the other, radial flues extending from each of the semicircular flues to the outer wall of the kiln and closed at their outer ends by the said wall, the area of the floor covered by the central circular flue and its radial flues being equal to the area of the floor covered by either one of the semicircular flues and its radial flues, means for allowing the passage of the products of combustion at the closed ends of all the radial flues and above the central and the two semicircular flues, bag-walls located above the floor and between the radial flues of the two semicircular flues, and means for controlling the draft of the central and the two semicircular flues separately.

The foregoing specification signed this 26th day of December, 1903.

THOMAS I. BRETT.

In presence ot'- E. F. HARTLEY, C. W. SWISHER. 

